Bottle filler



Oct. 13;, 1936 PETERSEN 2,057,538

BOTTLE FILLER Filed July 3, 1934 Patented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENT OFFICEBOTTLE FILLER Thorvald Petersen,

Erie, Pa., assignor to R. G. Wright & 00., Bufialo, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1934, Serial No. 733,618

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle filling mechanisms.

The objects of this invention are to provide a bottle filling mechanismin which a minimum number of parts are exposed to contact with theliquid with which the bottles are to be filled, and in which these partsare so constructed that they can be easily and thoroughly cleansed andsterilized; also to provide a bottle filling mechanism in which thevalves for controlling the flow of liquid into the bottles are actuatedby the means for carrying the bottles into their filling positions, inconjunction with the bottles, but not directly by the bottles as washeretofore commonly done; also to provide a bottle filling machine inwhich the valve for controlling the flow of liquid into the bottles isprovided with a stem extending above the level of the liquid, and whichvalve is moved into open and closed positions by mechanism arrangedexterior to the liquid container and engaging the upper end of the valvestem; also to provide a bottle filling mechanism of this kind in whichthe valve stem is arranged to be readily disconnected from its actuatingmeans; also to provide a valve of this kind of novel construction andwhich is provided with means for deflecting the liquid in such a manneras to minimize foaming of the liquid; also to provide a. valve of thiskind with means for defleeting the liquid out of the path of airdischarged from the bottle while being filled; also to provide a valvestem of this kind with a central air passage and with means fordeflecting the liquid out of the path of movement of air to the passage;also to provide means of improved construction for quickly adapting themechanism to operate on bottles of different sizes; also to provide amechanism of this kind which is capable of operating at the same time onbottles of different sizes; also to provide a valve mechanism which isso constructed as to fill the bottles uniformly regardless of the levelof the liquid in the tank or container; also to improve the constructionof bottle filling mechanisms in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine provided with mechanism embodyingthis invention for filling bottles.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof on line 22, Fig. 1,on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional elevation in which the parts are shown indifierent positions.

Fig. 4 is a view on a still larger scale, showing the upper end of thevalve stem and the lower end of the actuating member or rod therefor.Fig. 5 is a fragmentary central sectional elevation of the lower end ofthe actuating member, on line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and '7 are transverse sections on line 66, Fig. 2 and 1-1, Fig.3, respectively.

Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section of a valve for controlling thedischarge of liquid to the bottles. 4

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevations, partly in section, of spacing members foruse when the machine is used for filling bottles of smaller sizes.

My improved bottle filling mechanism may be applied to a machine of anysuitable or desired type having means for moving the bottles into liquidreceiving positions. In the particular constructure shown in Fig. 1, mybottle filling mechanism is shown as applied to a machine having acarrier A in the form of a rotary table mounted to rotate upon astandard or base B and to move vertically relatively to this standard sothat the bottles C may be moved toward and from certain liquid dischargenozzles D, which may be formed on a tank or container E for the liquid.F represents a housing for suitable actuating mechanism by means ofwhich the table may be turned and moved up and down, and this mechanismmay be under the control of a foot pedal G. It will be understood,however, that the machine shown in Fig. l is merely illustrative of onetype of machine to which my bottle filling mechanism may be applied, andit will be understood that various types of bottle filling machines maybe equipped with my bottle filling mechanism. For example, in place ofthe rotary table A, a bottle carrier of any other suitable constructionmay be employed, and this bottle carrier may, if desired, be stationarywhile the tank itself moves relatively to the same. The bottles C shownare of the kind commonly used for milk, but it is not intended to limitthis application to the filling of milk bottles, since my improvedmechanism is equally applicable to the filling of other types of bottlesand for use with other liquids. 4

In bottle filling mechanisms as heretofore constructed, the filling ofthe bottle was generally accomplished by the actuation of a valvemechanism by the mouth of the bottle as the same was moved intoengagement therewith. Such valve mechanisms are hard to clean andsterilize and are also objectionable because of the tendency to producefroth which interferes with the proper filling of the bottles.

In accordance with my invention, the bottle carrier A is provided withone or more supports for the bottles, and these supports are yieldinglymounted on the carrier to permit the bottles to move relatively to thecarrier after they have been placed into their filling position. In theparticular construction shown, |4 represents a bottle support, the upperportion of which is preferably provided with an annular flange l5 forcorrectly positioning a bottle on the support. Each support also has astem |6 slidably arranged in an aperture or guide ll of the carrier A,the guide in the construction illustrated being tubular in shape andformed integrally with the carrier. The bottle supports l4 areyieldingly held in their uppermost positions in any suitable manner,coil springs |8 being provided for that purpose in the constructionshown, and being arranged in the lower portion of the sleeve Each springit engages at one end with the adjacent end of the stem l6, and at itsother end with a stop, such, for example as an inwardly extending flangeIQ of the sleeve During the upward movement of the bottle carrier A, theupper edge or mouth of the bottle engages a fixed portion surroundingthe discharge aperture D for the liquid, such for example as a resilientgasket or cushionZO, which may be made of rubher, and which is arrangedon the under surface of the tank E surrounding the discharge aperture D.It will, of course, be understood that my bottle filling mechanism isnot limited to use in connection with the tank E, since the liquid maybe conducted to .the discharge aperture D by means of a tube or duct.

When the carrier A moves into its upper position, the bottle C willengage the pad or cushion 20 sometime before the carrier A reaches theupper limit of its movement, and after engaging the pad, the bottle willcause the spring M to be. compressed as the stem l6 enters into thecavity in the sleeve l1, during farther upward movement of the carrierA, as shown in Fig. 3.

24 represents a valve arranged to seat inthe opening or dischargeorifice of the nozzle D to close this orifice. This valve, as clearlyshown in Figs. 2, 3 and 8 is provided near the upper portion thereofwith a face 25, which may be beveled or otherwise formed to seat in thelower part of the tank about the aperture D and the valve also includesa portion extending downwardly below the seating face 25, the purpose ofwhich will hereinafter be explained. The valve also includes a hollow ortubular stem 21 extending through the valve to the lower end thereof.This stem extends upwardly to a sufiicient extent, so that the upper endthereof is always out of the liquid and this stem, consequently,discharges air from the bottle which is displaced by the liquid enteringthe same, without causing this air to bubble through the liquid.

The valve is arranged to be moved up and down for unseating and seatingthe same by means engaging the upper end of the stem. In theconstruction shown for this purpose, this end of the stem is providedwith a part 3|), which in the particular construction illustrated is inthe form of a ring or band, but which may be of any other form, andwhich has a releasable looking engagement with a valve actuating rod ormember 3|. In the particular construction shown, the valve actuatingmember is provided with a lip 32 of arc-shaped form on which theprojection or ring 3!] of the valve stem may be supported. On theopposite side, the valve actuating rod is provided with a downwardlyextend ing stop projection 33, adapted to engage a side of the valvestem 21 or of the ring 30 thereon. This extension serves to hold thevalve stem in engagement with the valve actuating member 3|, when thevalve stem is in upright or operative position, as clearly shown inFigs. 2 and 3. If, however, the valve actuating member 3| is raisedabove its normal operating position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.3, the valve stem may then be tilted at an angle to the vertical assimilarly indicated in Fig. 3, in which case the edge of the ring orflange 30 of the stem disengages the projection 33, thus permitting thevalve stem to be disengaged from the lip 32. Similarly, of course, thevalve can be connected with its actuating member by first tilting thevalve stem into an inclined position. In this manner, each valve can beeasily disconnected and removed from the mechanism for cleaning andsterilization. Any other quickly detachable connection between the valvestem and its actuating member may, however, be employed.

1 .The valve actuating member 3| includes a portion 35 which extendsdownwardly intov proximity to the bottle carrier A and is suitablyguided, for example, by means of guide brackets 36 and 31, which may besecured to the tank E. In the construction shown, the upper bent overportion of the valvev actuating member 3| is, of course, also guided inits upper portion by passing through an aperture 38 in the top wall ofthe tank.

Means are provided for moving the valve actuating member 3| to open andclose the valve while the bottle is positioned in contact with thegasket 20 surrounding the liquid discharge nozzle D. In the constructionshown for this purpose, a plunger 40 is arranged in a guide apertureformed in a projection 4| extending laterally of the bottle carrier A.The plunger has a reduced portion about which a coil spring 42 isarranged and a sleeve 43 is threaded into the outer end of the aperturein which the plunger is guided and acts as a guide for the stem orreduced portion of the plunger 40 and as a stop for the spring 42. Themovement of the plunger is preferably effected by movement of thesupport |4 relatively to-the bottle carrier A. For this purpose, thestem l6 of the support I4 is provided with a reduced neck 44 at adistance from the lower end thereof and the upper part of the neckterminates in a tapering portion 45. This neck also forms an abrupt orstop shoulder 46 on the stem l6 below the neck, with which the plunger4!] cooperates to limit the extent towhich the spring l8 may press thesupport l4 outwardly. When the table A moves upwardly with reference tosupport M for the bottle, as will result when the bottle engages thecushion or gasket 23 during the upward movement of the carrier A, thestem It will move into the guide sleeve ll, so that the inclined orwedge-shapedpart 45 will engage the inner end of the plunger 40 andpress the same outwardly against the action of the spring 42. When inthis position, the end of the plunger 40 will, upon further upwardmovement of the table, engage with the lower end of the valve actuatingmember 3| and raise this member, during the last part of the upwardmovement of the bottle carrier A, into the position shown in full linesin Fig. 3, in which the valve 24 is lifted into a position to open theaperture of the nozzle D. Similarly, after the bottle has been filled,when the table begins its downward movement, the first part of thismovement will result in a corresponding downward movement ofithe valve24 into its closing position; this movement taking place prior to thedownward movement of :the bottle C, or in other words, while the bottleis held in its upperv position .by the expansionof the spring [8. Inthismannenall of. the actuating mechanism for the valve may be locatedexterior to the liquid so that only they valve 2t and its stem need besterilized.

In theoperation of this portion of the mechanism, it will beobvious thatthe opening of. a valve. is controlled indirectly through a bottle,sinceif no bottle is on the support Hi, the stem IE will not be pressedinto its socket and consequently the stem 40 of the plunger will notmove outwardly, so that the valve actuating .member 3.! wouldnot'bemoved upwardly to discharge liquid. .The valve actuating member 3|aszshown is moved to its lower-position by gravity, but other means fornormally moving this member into valve closing position may be employed.The downward movement of the valve actuating member is limited by theseating of the valve, but when the valve is removed for cleaning, a stopor pin l? may act as a stop by engaging a guide bracket 36.

a The valve 24 maybe of any suitable or desired shape, that shown havingits seating face 25 extending inwardly toward the axis of the valve toform a'reduced' waist portion 48 providing ample clearance around theedge of the orifice in the nozzle, to provide for a rapid flow of liquidinto the bottles when the valve is in 'open'position. Below the waistportion 48, the valve is preferably provided with an outwardly flaringportion 50,- which has the function of directing liquid dischargedthrough the aperture outwardly toward the wall of the neck of thebottle. The liquid thus discharged into the bottle, therefore, flowssubstantially in the form of a cone which contacts with the inner wallof the neck of the bottle and the liquid then flows downwardly along theinner surface of the bottle, thus avoiding splashing. Furthermore, theoutwardly flaring portion 50 directs the liquid outwardly so as not tointerfere in any way with or intercept the path of the upwardlytravelling air passing into the hollow valve stem 21. In this manner,splashing and frothing are prevented and the filling of bottles isexpedited due to the fact that the middle portion of the bottle is leftfree for the upward passage of air while the liquid flows into thebottle about this central air core, there being no crossing of thiscentral air column by the liquid entering the bottle. To accomplishthese results, the taper of the portion 50 of the valve is such that thehollow conical body of liquid leaving the valve will impinge on theinner surface of the neck of the bottle at such an angle that the liquidwill continue to flow downwardly along the side of the bottle.

After a bottle has been filled and the table or carrier for the bottlesis lowered, during the first part of the downward movement of thecarrier the bottles are held in their upper positions by means of thesprings l8 and the valves are dropped into their seating positions forclosing the nozzles D which they control. This downward movement of thevalves into the bottles while the same are completely filled with milkresults in the displacing of a quantity of milk from the upper portionof each bottle upwardly into the hollow valve stem 21. Upon furtherdownward movement of the carrier, the bottles willmove out of engagementwith the .fiexible pads or cushions D, which also seal the tops of thebottles while the same are in filling position, and such movementpermits the liquid within the hollow valve stems 2'! to drain into thebottles to completely fill the same.

52, Fig. 9 and 53, Fig. 10 represent spacing members which may be usedin connection with the supports 14 when the machine is used for fillingbottles smaller than the maximum size for which the machine isconstructed. In the particular construction illustrated, the machine isbuilt to operate on quart milk bottles of the kind commonly employed.When the spacing member .53 shown in Fig. 10 is placed on the support L4as shown at the extreme left of Fig. l, a pint bottle C may be placed onthe spacing member so that the top of this bottle is at the sameelevation as the tops of quart bottles. When the spacing member 52 isemployed, a halfpint bottle C may be placed on this support. In thismanner, the machine may at the same time fill bottles of the varioussizes. The lower ends of the spacing members 52 and 53 are providedrespectively with base portions 54 and 55 of a-contour to fit snuglywithin the flange l5 of the bottle support l4, and the upper ends ofthese spacing members are provided with seats for the bottoms of thebottles formed, for example, by providing the tubular shells or bodyportions of the spacing members with inwardly extending shoulders orridges 56 and 57 of the shapes to fit respectively the half-pint andpint bottles. In a similar manner, the machine may readily be adaptedfor operation on bottles of other shapes or sizes.

In addition to the advantages of the bottle filler already stated, itwill be noted that the valve member 24 is moved upwardly and out of theneck'of the bottle when moving into its open position. This is ofadvantage for the reason that the opening in the neck of the bottlegenerally, tapers, being widest at the top. Consequently, .by moving thevalve member 24 upwardly, the milk can flow more rapidly into thebottle. any given capacity differ somewhat in height, the valve openingmechanism described has the further advantage that milk bottles of thesame capacity but of difierent heights will all be filled equallyrapidly, whereas with bottle filling valves of the type heretofore used,a short bottle would not open the filling valve as widely as a longerbottle, and consequently, longer time was taken to fill shorter bottles.These two facts make it possible to speed up the machine to materiallyincrease the capacity thereof.

I claim:

1. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a stationarycontainer for liquid, a valve controlling the discharge of liquid fromsaid container to a bottle, a bottle carrier movable vertically towardand from said tank to place the bottle in position to receive liquid, abottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to hold abottle. in receiving position relatively to said container during aportion of the movement of said carrier, and means actuated by therelative movement of said support and carrier to open and close saidvalve.

2. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, abottle carrier arranged to move up and down toward and from said nozzleto place a bottle into liquid receiving position, a bottle supportFurthermore, since milk bottles of s'lidable vertically relatively tosaidcarrier and yieldingly held in its upper position, a part mounted onsaid carrier to move therewith and also slidable in a directionlaterally of the direction of movement of said carrier, another partconnected with said valve and extending into proximity to said firstpart, and means actuated by the movement of said support relatively tosaid carrier for sliding said first part into a position to move intoengagement with said second part to open said valve.

3. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, abottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place abottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle, abottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to moverelatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is inliquidreceiving position, a valve actuating member extending into proximity toa part of said carrier, and a part mounted on said carrier to slide in adirection transverse of the direction of movement of said carrier andwhich is slid by the motion of said support relatively to said carrierinto a position toengage said valve actuating member.

4. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, abottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place. abottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle,abottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to moverelatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is in liquidreceiving position, a part which is slid laterally of the direction ofmovement of said carrier by'said support after said support has placedthe bottle into liquid receiving position, and means actuated by saidpart for opening and closing said valve.

5. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a stationary liquiddischarge nozzle, a valve controlling the discharge of liquid from saidnozzle, a table for supporting a plurality of bottles and movable in ahorizontal direction into a position to bring a bottle into verticalalinement with said nozzle and then vertically to place the bottle intoliquid receiving position relatively to said nozzle, a bottle supportmounted on said table to move horizontally therewith and slidablevertically relatively to said table, means for yieldingly urging saidbottle support upwardly relatively to said table and for permittingmovement of said table relatively to said bottle support when the bottlereaches its liquid receiving position, and means actuated by saidrelative movement of said support and table to open said valve.

6. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, abottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place abottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle, abottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to moverelatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is in liquidreceiving position, a valve actuating member extending into proximity toa part of said carrier, a plunger slidably mounted on said carrier andnormallyheld in a withdrawn position, and means actuated by relativemovement of said carrier and said support for moving said plungeroutwardly into a position to engage said valve actuating member to opensaid valve.

7. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, abottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place abottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle, abottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to moverelatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is in liquidreceiving position, a valve actuating member extending into proximity toa part of said carrier, a plunger slidably mounted on said carrier,resilient means for holding said plunger in a position out of contactwith said valve actuating means, and a tapering part on said supportwhich engages said plunger and moves the same outwardly into a positionto engage said valve actuating means when said support m'ovesrelativelyto said carrier.

8. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a container forliquid, a valve controlling the discharge of liquid from said containerto a bottle, a bottle carrier arranged to yieldingly support a bottleand to place the bottle in position to receive liquid, means mounted onsaid carrier to move into position to open said valve, and meansactuated by relative movement of said bottle and said carrier for movingsaid valve opening means into valve opening position.

9. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, abottle carrier arranged to yieldingly support a bottle and to place thesame in position to receive liquid from said nozzle, a member movableinto and out of a position to open said valve, means actuated by initialrelative movement of' said bottle and said carrierfor moving said memberinto operative position for opening the valve upon further movement ofsaid bottle carrier.

10; In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, abottle carrier arranged to move up and down toward and from said nozzleto place a bottle into liquid receiving position, a bottle supportslidable vertically relatively to said carrier and yieldingly held inits upper position, a member movably arranged on said bottle carrier andmovable into an outer position by initial relative movement of saidbottle support relatively to said carrier,

said member after said initial movement being moved by said carrier intoa position to open said valve.

11. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid dischargenozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, avalve actuating member connected with said valve for opening and closingthe'same, a bottle carrier arranged to yieldingly support a bottle andto place the same into a position to receive liquid from said nozzle, apart carried by said carrier and movable into a position to engage saidactuating member during the movement of said carrier and into anotherposition in which said part will not engage said actuating member duringthe movement of said carrier, and means operated during the initialyielding movement of said bottle relatively to said carrier to move saidpart into said position to engage said actuating member.

12. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a carrier for abottle, a container for liquid having a discharge nozzle, a valvecontrolling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle and having a stemextending upwardly into a position above the liquid level in saidcontainer, said valve being confined within said nozzle while in itsopen and closed positions, a valve actuating member having a hookedconnection with said valve stem which holds said valve and said memberconnected when said valve is in open and closed positions in saidnozzle, said valve and said member being movable into a position inwhich said valve is out of said nozzle to permit release of said hookedconnection, and means actuated by said carrier for moving said valveactuating member into valve opening and valve closing positions.

13. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a carrier for abottle, a container for liquid having a discharge nozzle in the bottomthereof, a valve which extends into said nozzle for opening and closingthe same, a substantially upright valve stem extending above the liquidlevel in said container and connected to said valve, a valve actuatingmember having a hooked connection with the upper end of said stem whichis releasable only when said valve stem is out of its upright position,said actuating member being movable vertically to cause said valve tomove out of said nozzle to permit said stem to swing to an inclinedposition to release said hooked connection, and means actuated by saidcarrier for moving said valve actuating member into valve opening andclosing positions.

THORVALD PETERSEN.

